Cock Tavern, Fitzrovia, London

The only thing I don’t like about The Cock is that it’s nearly impossible to find a place to sit after 5. It’s so close to my uni and admittedly it’s a novelty with the name (though how many times have people made jokes about the name? I’m sure it’s gotten old :/). The pints are great and cheap, as is expected from a Sam Smiths. Just wish there was more seating is all.

Go out here ALOT!!! 1. Because of all the sam smith pubs this one has a bit of life and atmosphere. 2. The staff are much more friendly inc the big Scottish landlord. and 3. Its close enough to the tube that on a school night I cant be misled into other pubs and clubs.

lovely little pub with 2 benches outside to watch the world go by while you enjoy your cheap pint. Very comfy inside and out, really enjoyed our drinks here

The Cock is my new 'lets meet in town after work for drinks' pub and although it is a little more expensive than most old man pubs it's in a really convenient place and on weekdays it is never too full if you get down there early.

Chilled atmosphere, a good selection of booze and plenty of seating space both upstairs and downstairs - perfect for weekday catch ups!

Traditional London boozer just off Oxford Circus. The best thing about the Cock Tavern is the fact it's a Sam Smiths pub so you're guaranteed a nice cheap pint just seconds away from the shopping hell that is Oxford Street.

The more time I spend working near Oxford Circus, the more I end up in places like The Cock.

Once I would have gritted my teeth, flummoxed to near-homicidal rage by Oxford Street shoppers, and spent a small fortune in a number of nearby overpriced bars full of pretentious tosspots.

These days I just smile smugly and duck one street off the main drag to quaff something cold and alcoholic for a fraction of the price. Like the others have said, it's the company you keep that will make or break your evening in here, but the comfy setting and the cheap booze will definitely help.

Service tends to be slow and not too cheery, but if you get here before the hordes and bag yourself a table, you'll easily be able to overlook that.

There's nothing wrong with this pub, nothing at all. It's just... a Sam Smith's pub with nothing to shout about. The plus side is that it's good to know there's a decent pub around the corner from Oxford Circus, but it won't blow you away. That said, as with most Sam Smith's pubs, it's a pretty building. Not too busy either, so there was table space a plenty.

One of those places that is made by the people you're with, not because it's a destination venue. Luckily, I was with fabulous Qype people, so we had much fun. I've no doubt I'll find myself in here again, which is fine with me. But I'm not going to trek across town to get here.

Went here recently with a gaggle of some of my favourite folks from Qype and had a really nice time.

Comfortable, pubby, accommodating: I love Samuel Smith pubs and this one's as good as any. Its biggest assets also lend to the only disadvantage of a visit here - the Fitzrovia location makes it brilliant as a central London meeting point and the cheap (but good) beer means a few pints won't hurt the wallet nearly as much as at most pubs nearby. But inexpensive beer in a convenient setting almost guarantees it'll be full up and finding a spare table can be difficult.

There's a strong possibility that this branch of Sam Snith's boozers was named in honour of the barman that was single-handedly working the upstairs room t'other night.

Other than his service, which was frostier than their own brew of Alpine lager, this is a moderately acceptable choice for a central London tipple. The beers weigh in relatively cheap, it's drenched in that old school Soho charm but I wouldn't recommend the burgers. Although I didn't taste the one that eventually found its way to our table, complete with its own personal sweaty bun, it looked like something my mum would have served up in the 1980s.

It's Samuel Smiths, so it's cheap. It's also incredibly close to the Qype office, so is ideal for an after-work pint (or two). As the weather was so nice we were drinking outside, so I can't tell you much about the inside. On the street outside they do have seating though, which is a nice addition.

"Excuse me... could you point me in the direction of The Cock?"

Thank you Cock Tavern, thank you for making me look like a weird Northerner, cottaging in the busy throng of Oxford Circus.

Aside from initial blushes, The Cock is a decent old-school ale house in the middle of a load of modern stuff. If someone asks you where the pub is, your answer should be along the lines of "1963".

Of course, for people who find themselves yearning for chrome bars and neon bar-staff with lazer tip-jars and the like, this is a pub that will appal you. It shouldn't though because, in essence, you've got a good bargain bucket boozer that serves good pints.

There's a good mixed crowd in The Cock (which, for the record, never becomes a normal thing to say) which are all there to chat and drink beer. It's almost refreshingly antiquated.

I clearly enjoyed myself in there as I got there at 4pm and didn't leave 'til after 11pm. Of course, it was the company that made my time in there so insanely enjoyable, but The Cock is a pub that facilitates it. Beer, no juke, no TV, nothing to fight against.

Lovely stuff.

Central London isn't exactly short of Sam Smith pubs, but I won't complain because they are generally ace.

The Cock Tavern doesn't have as much charm as the nearby Princess Louise, but it's nowhere near as busy. Other than that it's the same as any other Sam Smith pub. Drinks are cheap, decor is old-fashioned and there's generally a mixed crowd.

If you can get there before 6pm then do - you won't have much chance of grabbing a seat after that.

Chris Greeno often found bent over in dark corners of the venue

Yet another Sam Smith's gem. Casting around for somewhere to have lunch I walked in not realising it was a Sam Smith's pub. Wonderful wood panelling and typical Sam Smith's layout. Sam Smith's seem to be changing their crisp supplier so they were completely out of crisps and nuts. The place is plastered with notices asking punters to be thoughtful if drinking outside, so presumably this is part of the culture here. As Miss Rachelle and others have noted, the oversized lamp outside is a sight in itself.......The upstairs dining room is especially nice

Ah the original mans bar… standing proud, swamped in boring concrete, it large lanterns proudly proclaiming its stoic heritage.
Again the same call from within. Loads more wood than really is eco friendly, but still so beautiful, oldly worldy chairs and tables, and the talisman to complete it (football related of course).
Plus they will allow a sneaky street pint, and with that sunny corner I won’t say no.

If you’ve been to a Sam Smiths pub before then you know the drill: cheap, own brand beer, that’s actually pretty good but still pretty lethal in terms of its strength and the abilioty to give you a hangover that will last you through most of the weekend.

As usual Sam Smiths have chosen a building with a ton of olde worlde features, including some of the biggest lamps you’ve ever seen in your life on the exterior and lots of dark wood and brass fixtures on the interior.

One gripe; the quiz machine refused to take our money, how are we supposed to show off our intellectual skillz to the other punters if the quiz machine is broken?

For those not accustomed to Samuel Smith’s pubs it’s an independent brewery dating back to the 1800s where; 'The beers are all produced by the Tadcaster brewery and no large-corporation spirits or soft-drinks are available. Prices are kept minimal by only increasing in line with alcohol duty and inflation increases.’ (Thanks wiki)

Because of this you’re sure to get good value pints in any of their pubs and they generally are furnished in a more old-fashioned way which enhances the old English feel. For a traitional pub experience it’s a great place to visit - and extremely central and near to Oxford Circus if you’re meeting friends. Just don’t ask for a sporty cocktail or you’ll be lynched.

A very attractive if somewhat smaller Sam Smith’s pub unexpectedly lacking in any kind of chanticlair motif. Can’t be beat for location or price and surprising uncrowded on a Saturday evening. It’s a very comfy place with that great old man’s feel. And it’s nice and quiet so conversation is possible. A really good place to start or end the evening.

If we'd been able to find a better place to stand last night i probably would have given The Cock another star. But as it turned out we were stuck right in the toilet flight path and found ourselves shuffling to avoid people coming and going from the gents for most of the evening. Like most Sam Smith's pubs in this area (The Fitzroy Tavern and The Champion to name two), The Cock gets very busy between about 6-8pm and then seems to empty out almost entirely by 9pm. I've never really been able to explain this. Where does everyone go!?

side note - Watch out for Alpine lager. More than 4 pints of this stuff and you will have a world ending hang over in the morning.

Solid Sam Smiths in the centre of town. No messing about with the formula, but it’s worth mentioning they do have the cask version of Old Brewery Bitter on tap. And very nice it was too. I love the feel of this place - classic central London boozer, unspoilt, and with some nice features such as the giant lamps outside. In the summer (and now) people will spill out onto the street and annoy the estate agent next door…